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Cranberry Burst

Easy Cranberry Relish Recipe

✨ Fresh, tart, and sweet, this easy Cranberry Relish is the perfect make-ahead holiday side dish bursting with flavor and color. This dish comes together in just 10 minutes with fresh cranberries, apple, and orange. 🍎🍊

Bright cranberry relish in a white serving bowl garnished with orange slices, with a red-striped towel and silver spoon beside it.

Cranberry Relish: A Holiday Staple

If you’re looking for a bright, fresh burst of flavor on your holiday table, this Cranberry Relish recipe is ideal. With a perfect balance of sweet, tart, and citrusy notes, this easy side dish comes together in minutes. You’ll love how this recipe uses simple ingredients to deliver a big impact.

Unlike cooked sauces, this fresh cranberry relish retains its crisp texture and vibrant color. It’s the best Cranberry Relish for pairing with turkey, ham, or even spooned over cheesecake or ice cream. Once you learn how to make Cranberry Relish, it will quickly become a staple for all your holiday dinners.

This Cranberry Apple Relish combines cranberries, apples, and oranges for a refreshing twist that feels festive and homemade. It’s a fun, fuss-free way to add color and brightness to your meal, and the flavor only improves as it chills.

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Quick to make – ready in about 10 minutes
  • No cooking needed, just fresh ingredients
  • Perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors
  • A colorful, festive side for any holiday meal
  • Great make-ahead option for busy days
Overhead view of fresh ingredients for cranberry relish including chopped walnuts, sugar, half an orange, apple quarters, and cranberries arranged on a white tiled surface.

🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Fresh cranberries: Use frozen cranberries if fresh ones are unavailable, but thaw and drain them first.
  • Orange: Use a mandarin or tangerine for a slightly sweeter flavor.
  • Apple: Choose a crisp variety like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for the best texture.
  • Granulated sugar: Adjust to taste depending on how tart you like your relish.
  • Walnuts: Substitute with pecans or omit for a nut-free version.

✨ Variations

  • Add spices: Mix in a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg for a warm, cozy flavor.
  • Go nut-free: Skip the walnuts or replace them with sunflower seeds.
  • Sweeten it up: Add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup for a milder sweetness.
  • Try other fruits: Swap the apple for a pear or a pineapple for a fun twist.
Finely chopped orange pieces inside the red food processor, showing a bright yellow-orange mixture.
Finely chopped orange pieces inside the red food processor, showing a bright yellow-orange mixture.
Finely chopped orange pieces inside the red food processor, showing a bright yellow-orange mixture.
Finely chopped orange pieces inside the red food processor, showing a bright yellow-orange mixture.
Finely chopped orange pieces inside the red food processor, showing a bright yellow-orange mixture.
Mixing bowl with chopped cranberries and oranges combined, showing red and orange colors blending together.
Apple quarters added to the food processor bowl for the next chopping step in the cranberry relish process.
Finely chopped apples inside the red food processor, creating a light, slightly chunky texture.
Mixing bowl filled with chopped cranberries, oranges, and apples, ready for walnuts and sugar to be added to complete the relish mixture.
Mixing bowl with chopped cranberries, oranges, apples, and chopped walnuts layered on top, ready to be stirred together.
Mixed cranberry relish showing blended cranberries, apples, oranges, and walnuts in a clear glass bowl.
Granulated sugar sprinkled over the cranberry relish mixture before final stirring.
Fully mixed cranberry relish showing bright red color and evenly combined texture in a glass bowl.
Freshly made cranberry relish covered with plastic wrap and ready to chill in the refrigerator.
Close-up of a spoonful of cranberry relish lifted from the bowl, showing the chunky texture with cranberries, apples, and nuts.

🔥 Tips for the Best Cranberry Relish

  • Pulse the ingredients separately to control the texture.
  • Wash all fruits thoroughly since you’ll be using the peel.
  • For a smoother relish, process all the ingredients together until finely chopped.
  • Make the Cranberry Relish recipe a day ahead so the flavors can blend.

❓ FAQs

Can I make Cranberry Relish ahead of time?

Absolutely. This Fresh Cranberry Relish tastes even better after sitting in the refrigerator for a day.

What’s the difference between cranberry relish and cranberry sauce?

Relish is uncooked and chunkier, while sauce is simmered until smooth.

Can I make a sugar-free version?

You can use a sugar substitute or reduce the amount to suit your taste.

What fruits can I add to change the flavor?

You can mix in pineapple chunks, pear, or even mango for a tropical twist. Each adds a slightly different sweetness and texture.

Can I add any spices?

Absolutely. Cinnamon, nutmeg, or even a hint of ginger can enhance the flavor and make it more festive. Start with just a pinch and adjust to taste.

Is it okay to add celery or onions?

Yes, for a more savory version of Cranberry Relish, add finely chopped celery, onion, or even a little jalapeño for mild heat. It’s great alongside turkey or pork.

Can I make Cranberry Relish without a food processor?

Yes. Chop all the ingredients finely with a sharp knife. It takes longer but gives a chunkier, rustic texture that still tastes great.

Can I add other citrus besides the orange?

Yes, try lemon, lime, or grapefruit for a brighter or tangier version of this cranberry relish with orange recipe.

How can I make it more festive?

Stir in pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, or even a splash of orange liqueur for a holiday party twist.

Overhead shot of finished cranberry relish served in a white bowl, topped with orange slices and surrounded by fresh cranberries.

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Overhead square image of cranberry relish in a white bowl topped with orange slices, showcasing its vibrant red color and fresh texture.

Cranberry Relish

By
Jamie Sherman

This Cranberry Relish is fresh, tart, and perfectly sweet. A quick no-cook side that adds bright flavor to any holiday meal.

Prep:
10 minutesmins
Additional Time:
1 hourhr
Total:
1 hourhr 10 minutesmins
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Equipment

  • food processor
  • rubber spatula or wooden spoon
  • mixing bowl

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, chop the cranberries and transfer them to a large mixing bowl.
  2. Add the orange to the food processor and chop finely, then add to the bowl.
  3. Repeat with the apple, chopping finely before adding to the bowl.
  4. Chop the walnuts and add them to the bowl. Stir to combine.
  5. Sprinkle with sugar and stir well.
  6. Cover the relish and chill for at least 1 hour or up to 3 days before serving.

Notes

🥡 STORAGE

  • Store cranberry relish in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Stir before serving to redistribute any juices.

♨️ REHEATING

  • Cranberry relish is best served chilled or at room temperature. No reheating is needed.

❄️ FREEZING

  • Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
  • Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving and stir well.

💡 TIPS FOR BEST RESULTS

  • Wash the fruit thoroughly since you’ll be using the peel.
  • For a less chunky texture, pulse the mixture for a longer period in the food processor.
  • Add a splash of orange juice for a slightly saucier relish, if you prefer.

🍳 ALTERNATE COOKING METHODS

  • Cooked version – Simmer the chopped fruit with sugar and a few tablespoons of water for 8-10 minutes to achieve a softer, jam-like relish.

♻️ LEFTOVERS

  • Use leftovers as a topping for turkey sandwiches.
  • Spoon over yogurt, pancakes, or oatmeal for a bright, fruity kick.

📝 NOTES

  • Make sure to wash your fruit thoroughly, as you’ll be using the peel and all.
  • This relish tastes even better the next day as the flavors blend together.
  • Serve chilled or at room temperature for the best taste and texture.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal, Carbohydrates: 34g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 0.5g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 1mg, Potassium: 97mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 30g, Vitamin A: 50IU, Vitamin C: 9mg, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 0.3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.


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